The journey led them to a quiet village nestled amidst rolling hills. The old man pointed to a modest house, neither grand nor humble, its wooden walls weathered by time. "This is my home," he said.
Liana followed him inside. He showed her to a small but clean guest room. "Rest here," he instructed. "Tend to your wounds."
As Liana cleaned her scrapes and bruises, she thought of the questions burning in her mind. When would her training begin? She emerged from the room to find the old man preparing a simple meal.
"Master," she asked tentatively, "when do we begin our practice?"
"Tomorrow," he replied. "For today, you can explore the village. It has its own beauty." He paused. "I need to go to the forest to gather some medicinal plants."
"You know medicine?" Liana asked, surprised.
"Of course," he said with a slight smile.
"You are full of surprises, Master," she remarked.
"They call me 'Master' for a reason," he chuckled.
He left for the forest, returning later with a bundle of herbs and roots. He meticulously ground some of them, mixing them into a paste. "Apply this to your injuries," he instructed. "It will speed healing."
Liana, having only washed the dirt from her wounds and applied a simple bandage to prevent infection, followed his instructions. She then went outside to find him meditating. She quietly observed him, not wanting to disturb his peace.
Nearby, she noticed a large clay pot. Curiosity piqued, she reached out to touch it. Suddenly, an unseen force pulled her back, sending her sprawling onto her backside.
"Don't touch that," the old man said, his eyes now open, a hint of warning in his voice. "There's something dangerous inside."
Liana, rubbing her sore backside, looked at him with surprise. "How did you know I was going to touch it? You didn't even open your eyes!"
He smiled. "It's a simple trick. I'll teach you… tomorrow."
As the sun began to set, Liana felt the grime of her journey clinging to her. "Master," she said, "may I go to the river? I feel… unclean."
"Take this lamp," he replied, handing her a small oil lamp. "It will help you avoid any… surprises on the path." He also gave her a set of clean clothes.
Liana took the clothes, noticing they were women's garments. "These… these are women's clothes," she observed.
"They were my daughter's," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. Before she could ask any further questions, he added, "Don't ask any more questions. Just go and wash yourself."
Liana sensed the pain in his eyes and decided not to pry. She took the lamp and the clothes and went to the river. The cool water was a welcome relief. She changed into the clean clothes, noticing they were simple but well made.
Returning to the house, she found the old man had prepared a simple dinner. They ate in comfortable silence. After the meal, exhaustion overcame Liana. She thanked the old man and retired to her room, falling asleep almost immediately.